Vehicle wheel



G. FAULDS VEHICLE WHEEL Dec. 30, 1947.

Filed April 4, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG 3- FIGJL INVENTEOR: George Faulds,

'ATTORNEYS.

G. FAUL DS VEHICLE WHEEL Dec. 30, 1947.

Filed April 4, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

George Faulds,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 30, .1947

, angers STATES" PATENT OFHC VEHICLE WHEEL GecrgeFaulds, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application April 4, 1945, Serial No. 586,480

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to Vehicle wheels and, more particularly, has reference to the species or type thereof commonly used on motor cars, autotrucksandanalogous self-propelled vehicles.

Wheels of the kind referred to', whilemeasurably satisfactory in use, are either of too complicated design, or are capable of ready disman tling by unauthorized persons; or easy removal in part or entirely by thieves. It is a fundamental aim of my invention to overcome the noted disadvantages by providing a novel demountable Vehicle wheel which is comparatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture; easy to put on or take off; and which, furthermore, when assembled effectively prevents illicit removal or similar tampering with the inflation valve for .surreptitious release and theft of the tire.

A further aim is to provide a wheel of the indicated species including provisions whereby appropriate anti-skid devices can be applied to, or removed from, the wheel without disturbing any part or component thereof; while such devices are so anchored to the wheel that they are restrained against .creeping circumferentially or transversely of the tread of the tire.

While the stated definitions are indicative of the main aims of this invention, other objects with ancillary advantages will be evident to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction, arrangement and combinations of means hereafter fully disclosed; but it will also be appreciatedthat said invention is susceptibleof other embodiments, or structurally modified forms, coming equally within the terms and scope of the concluding claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automobile wheel constructed in accordance with one practical embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a larger scale part elevational view and part transverse cross-section of the same, taken approximately as indicated by the angled arrows 11-11 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a further enlarged transverse cross-section taken substantially as designated by the angled arrows III-III in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a fragmentary transverse cross-section taken on the plane designated IV-IV in Fig. 1 but drawn to larger scale for clearer illustration of important details.

Fig. 5,,Sheet 3, is a similar view to the lower half -portion of Fig. 3, but showing a slight modification thereof.

Fig. 6, Sheet 2, is a fragmentary view taken 2 substantially as indicated by the angled-arrows VL-Vl? at the left-hand upper part'of Fig. 2."

Fig. 7, Sheet 1, is a View similar to'Fig. 3 of a further modified form of the invention; and;

Fig. 8 is a similar View to'Fig. 5 but showing a still further modification of this invention.

Y first to Figs. 1 and 2, a conventional wheel body component of the disc-type is-comprehensively designated by the reference character 9, said wheel embodying a circumferential flange Eflfor application and securement thereon of a novel drop-center rim H, in which the tire 52 seats; while the wheels also includes a hub it 'by' which it is supported on the axle i l; and such hub i3 is closed in by a snap-on cap l5; all of said parts being merely referred to by way of providing a proper base for explanation of the features of invention now to be'described;

The drop-center rim ll of this invention, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4', it willberemarked, is appropriately shaped, or spun, to comprise a central circumferential channel-like depression iii with flanking concentric cylindrical portions it, said latter portions having outwardly-directedopposed'flares l8 each embodying an in-turned peripheral flat annular part l9. These annular parts 19, it is to be noted, spacedly parallelthe general plane of the wheel 9 while they jointly serve to considerably strengthen and rigidify the rim H as a unit;

In the modified form of drop-center rim H shown byFig. 5 it will be observed that the lefthand side-portion conforms in cross-section with the preceding description in that it includes corresponding parts [6, ll, l3 and !9; but that the right hand cylindrical part H is abruptly turned inwards at 2!! to provide a rectangularly-related flange 2|. To thisfiange 2i there is attached, as by circumferentially-spaced securing means 22, an annular clamping ring 23 of somewhat U-section in that it embodies an inner part 24-- complemental to the flares 58 previously explained-which is extended inward to confrontingly abut, and be attached to,1the flange 2!, as readily understood on an inspection of" Fig; 5';

whereas the ring 23 also is provided with a flat annular outer part 25, corresponding to the inturned peripheral section [9 of Figs. 3 and 4, more particularly.

Fig. '7 shows a cross-section of rim ll, similar to Fig. 3, excepting that both cylindrical-portions II are abruptly turned inwards at 25, 25 to define parallelling flanges 2|, 2'! the lower or inner portions of which are respectively retroverted at 28 to define abutment flanges 29 having their peripheral parts outwardly curved at 30, in conformity with the flares It, for force reception of the bead portions 3i of the tire shoe 32 in conformity with known procedure. This particular form of rim construction ensures a very rigid and strong structure. On the other hand when it is desirable that the tire shoe 32 may be slid into position on the rim with but little effort, use is preferably made of the removable annular clampring 23 shown in Fig. 5, or said ring may be substituted by the dished ring 33 of Fig. 8 which is secured in place by appropriate means 22, as before set forth, and needing no further explanation herein.

In order that the improved forms of wheel construction shown and described herein may have anti-skid devices 34, preferably of the type shown in my prior Patent No. 2,341,317, dated February 8, 1944, applied thereabout, use is conveniently made of the inner and outer strap means 35, 33 respectively, shown to best advantage in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The inner strap means 35 comprises a flexible element 31 having a claw-hook 38 at one end for engagement at 35 outwardly through the flanking end of the device 34; and an eye-hook 49 coupled by a retractile spring ll, at the other end of said flexible element 31; the eye-hook 40 being passed through a slot 42 in the peripheral flange H! with engagement around the inner edge of said flange as readily understood from Figs. 1-3. On the other hand the outer strap means 36 includes two aligned flexible elements 31, 53 connectable by an adjuster buckle 4-3; while each such element is provided with a claw-hook 38 and a similar hook 0 for respective application to the anti-skid device 34 and the slot 42 in the related flange l9 as aforesaid. Now it will be readily seen that the respective strap means 35, 35 are so designed and positioned as to greatly facilitate application to, or removal of, the anti-skid devices 3 l; while they are so arranged that when the elements 31', 43 are properly tightened-up by the buckle 44, the devices 34 are positively restrained against circumferential or transverse creep relative to the tire shoe 32.

In order that my improved demountable wheel 9 may be rendered safe against illicit dismantling by unauthorized persons, or the tire deflated and stolen, I preferably make use of a dished or concavo-convex disc 45 having a periphera1 flat 46, see Fig. 4 to best advantage, adapted to concentrically overlap and firmly abut the outer face of the associated rim flange Hi. This disc 45 is preferably provided with a pair of peripherally spaced and relativelystepped tongues 41 engageable through a pair of special slots 48 provided for the purpose in the rim flange 18, so as to prevent any rattling thereof as well as peripherally spaced cut-outs or notches 45, registering with selected rim slots 44, for easy application and release of the hooks '36, without disturbing or releasing the disc 45, as readily understood on an examination of Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8; while said disc 45 is conveniently secured in place by a snap-lock 49, preferably welded at 5|], for instance, to an opposed lug 5|, with passage through a registrable hole 52 in the flange [9, see Fig. 5 to best advantage. Attention is directed to the fact that the lug 5| is preferably ofiset outwards so as to provide a bump 53 serviceable to positively ensure that the lock bolts 54 shall snap firmly against the inner face of the flange I9 and thereby hold the disc 45 securely in place. It is also to be remarked that by use of the disc 45 that the inflation valve 55 as well as the hub-cap l5 and hub [3 are all closed-in, whereby the associated releasable parts are effectively protected from being tampered with until the lock 49 is released.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a vehicle wheel of the disc type having a circumferential flange, the combination of a rim in which the tire seats, said rim embodying a central channel depression with flanking concentric cylindrical portions, an outwardly-directed flare from each cylindrical portion including an in-turned peripheral flat annular part and jointly rigidifying the rim as a unit, and a protective closure disc for the outside of the wheel with means enabling its firm attachment to the associated in-turned peripheral flat annular part of the rim, and the closure disc also having peripherally-spaced notches enabling application of anti-skid devices to the wheel, when necessary, without removal of said closure disc.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each flanking concentric cylindrical portion embodies an outwardly directed flare extending from said cylindrical portion, and wherein each said flare includes a comparatively wide peripheral flat inwardly directed annular part spacedly paralleling the general plane of the wheel.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the protective closure disc is of concavo-convex crosssection with a peripheral flat; wherein said disc is provided with a pair of spaced and relativelystepped tongues for engagement through special slots in the in-turned periphera1 flat rigidifying section of the wheel rim, at the outside thereof; wherein said closure disc embodies an outwardly-offset apertured lug diametrically opposing the tongues aforesaid; and wherein means engage through said apertured lug, and a registering hole in the rim in-turned flat section, to lock the closure disc in active position.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein an outwardly-directed flare from one of the cylindrical portions includes an inwardly directed flat annular part; wherein the other of the cylindrical portions is angularly turned inwards to define a flat flange, wherein both the flat flange and the rim annular part parallel the general plane of the wheel; and wherein an annular clampingring of complemental cross-section to the rimflare aforesaid is attachable to the second mentioned cylindrical portion flat flange, for the purpose specified.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein each rim inwardly directed flat annular part is outwardly retroverted, into mutual abutment and wherein said outward retroversion has its periphera1 portion curved outwards to define a flare, for the purpose specified.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein one of the rim cylindrical portions further includes an inwardly directed flat annular part with an abutment extension having its peripheral portion outwardly-curved to define a flare; wherein the other of said rim cylindrical portions embodies an inwardly directed extension to define a, fiat flange; and wherein an annular clamping-ring of complemental cross-section to the rim-flare aforesaid is attachable to the second mentioned 5 cylindrical portion fiat flange, for the purpose specified.

GEORGE FAULDS.

REFERENCES CETED w The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hippisley Aug. 13, 1907 Faulds Feb. 8, 1944 Elliott Sept. 13, 1921 La Brie Mar. 18, 1930 Miller Jan. 3, 1922 Jones Nov. 6, 1928 Frank May 17, 1932 Sanford Aug. 25, 1936 

